.FILES    .ARTICLES


Stephanie Seymour speaks of the impending birth of her third child
HELLO July 1996 


As one of the world's most beautiful women, Stephanie Seymour has forged a high-flying modelling career without having to forego motherhood, a remarkable feat in the ultimative of image-conscious industries. Stephanie already has two children, Dylan, seven, and Peter, two, and she is expecting another child this month. She divides her time between a country home in Connecticut and the magnificent loft in New York's Soho which she and her husband, Peter Brant, have tastefully refurbished to accommodate their impressive collection of modern art. Peter is the press magnate who in the Sixties launched the provocative and revolutionary arts magazine "Interview" with painter Andy Warhol. In the following interview, Stephanie shows she is refreshingly unfazed about her talent and reveals that aside from the birth of her third child she has clear ideas of what projects the future holds for her.

STEPHANIE, IS YOUR CHOSEN CAREER A TRUE VOCATION?

"Most probably, yes. I'd alway dreamt of a job that would put me in the limelight - model or actress. I've never imagined myself doing anything else."

YOU BEGAN YOUR CAREER VERY YOUNG, DIDN'T YOU?

"Yes, I was barely 14. I entered a beauty contest organized by the magazine "Mademoiselle". I didn't win, but it was a first step, and it got me noticed."

WERE YOUR PARENTS HAPPY WITH YOUR CHOICE?

"More or less. My mother certainly was. It was she who took the photos for my first press book and who encouraged me to enter the contest. She actually would have liked to have been a model herself. In a way, she made her dream come true through me. My father was far less enthusiastic."

TODAY YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MODELS IN THE BUSINESS. APART FROM BEAUTY, OF COURSE, IS THERE A RECIPE FOR MAKING IT TO THE TOP?

"In my case I think I was lucky to be photographed very young by the great photographers like Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Michel Comte and Herb Ritts. They force you to move better, to really bring out the best in yourself. That's really important."

IN THE STATES YOU ARE KNOWN AS "THE VICTORIA'S SECRET GIRL", BECAUSE OF THE CONTRACT YOU HAVE WITH THE AMERICAN LINGERIE COMPANY FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

"I've had plenty of other contracts before, particulary for cosmetics companies such as Almay and L'Oreal, but in the States the people need to identify a model's face with a brand name, and it's quite true. I'm 'the Victoria's Secret girl'!"

IN THE CATALOGUE, YOU APPEAR WITH VERY LITTLE ON.

"Which is only natural - it is lingerie, after all! I thought twice about it before signing the contract, as I knew the choice could close certain doors for me. The cosmetics manufacturers are pretty conservative people. Ladies' undies and beauty creams don't necessarily mix well! But Victoria's Secret offered me a very attractive contract, irresistible in fact! I work for them for about one month a year, and I really like the team."

YOU ALSO APPEAR ON US TELEVISION IN A COMMERCIAL FOR COCA-COLA LIGHT. COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SCENARIO?

"Yes, it's very funny. I go into a typically American diner, and sit down at the bar. The guy next to me is really taken aback to have Stephanie Seymour sitting beside him. He swallows a mouthful of Coca-Cola Light enough to seduce Stephanie Seymour?"... But it isn't. And I get up and walk off, head high."

AND YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO MODEL HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTIONS.

"Of course. Azzedine Alaïa was man who launched me. I was only just 15, and he believed in me, though I was a complete unknown. He's now a good friend, and I have great admiration for his work - I think he really understands the women of my generation."

DO YOU WEAR AZZEDINE ALAÏA OFF THE CATWALK?

"Mostly, yes. His clothes are really comfortable. Even pregnant, I wear Alaïa's sweaters. Of course there are many other talented designers, some of whom I've worked for - Gianni Versace for example. But Alaïa remains my favorite. I think it's important for a woman to be identified with a style, like Audrey Hepburn with Givenchy or Catherine Deneuve with Yves Saint Laurent."

HOW MANY DRESSES DO YOU HAVE IN THE COLLECTION?

"It's hard to say - around 70 I think. I have boxes full of them in the cupboard here in New York, and in our country house in Connecticut. I keep them all folded in tissue paper. I recently began to add models from the Seventies, and even the Eighties, to my collection."

BUT DO YOU EVER WEAR THEM?

"Sometimes; they're all my size. But I have to admit they're not very comfortable. Woman today have come to expect fabrics that move with the body, and clothes that are cut for comfort."

GIVEN THE WEALTH OF IMPRESSIVE PAINTINGS ON THE WALLS OF YOUR FLAT, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT YOU ARE ALSO A GREAT MODERN ART COLLECTOR.

"It's my husband, Peter, who actually started the collection. He bought some of Andy Warhol's work when he was only 19. He specialises in American Sixties art. He taught me everything I know about modern art, and that's how I started my personal collection, mainly American artists of the Eighties: Julian Schnabel, Kenny Scharf, Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Salle, Keith Haring, Jeff Koons, Francesco Clemente..."

YOUR APARTMENT CERTAINLY LENDS ITSELF TO THE ROLE.

"Yes, it's the ideal place to show paintings to their best advantage. That's what we wanted; we spent two years doing up this loft with the help of interior decorator Peter Marino. We chose to furnish it with Fifties furniture, mostly bought in Paris at the Neo Senso gallery and from Gousse-Seguin."

ALTHOUGH YOU ARE A NATIVE CALIFORNIAN YOU SEEM PERFECTLY ADAPTED TO THE NEW YORK LIFESTYLE.

"I just love New York; I love wandering around the museums and galleries. We also spend a lot of time in the country. My older son Dylan goes to school there. And we travel a lot, mainly to Paris. We love it. We got married outside Paris last summer."

YOU ALREADY HAVE TWO BOYS, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE THIRD IS GOING TO BE?

"Another boy! You're probably going to ask me what we're going to call him; probably Harry."

HOW DO YOU KEEP SUCH A PERFECT FIGURE?

"I'm just lucky. I avoid sweets and hamburgers, but that's all. I hate sport and never do any. I love having friends for dinner and cooking, especially Italian cuisine. My only luxuries are creams and thalassotherapy."

THERE AREN'T MANY MODELS WHO COMBINE THEIR CAREERS WITH MOTHERHOOD.

"That's true. I'm one of the few who does, but it helps enormously to give me a balance in my life. It means I'm far more relaxed about my future. My modelling career isn't everything. Otherwise I wouldn't have started a family at 19! I turn a lot of contracts down, and concentrate on what's essential to me."

DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS IN THE FASHION WORLD?

"Naomi Campbell is my great pal. But I'm also friends with Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista. We don't see a lot of each other, but we're always happy to see each other at the shows."

YOU EVEN FIND THE TIME TO TAKE PART IN CHARITY EVENINGS.

"Yes, I think it's only natural when you're famous. I do things for Sarah Ferguson's 'Chances for Children', and belong to a New York organization 'Meals on Wheels' that gives out hot meals to elderly, poor or underprivileged woman."

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? THE CINEMA MAYBE?

"Yes, I'm really keen to get some acting experience. For the moment the roles I've been offered have been pretty risqué, and haven't tempted me. But I'm waiting. I have great faith in my destiny, I'm keeping an eye open."

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE ACTRESSES?

"Jessica Lange and Isabelle Adjani."